UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special representative for Haiti, Bill Clinton, on Thursday outlined priorities for Haiti's recovery from the devastating earthquake, emphasizing economic recovery. Ban said the United Nations is moving from “emergency response to early recovery” more than a week after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck, devastating the capital, Port-au-Prince. The Secretary General said the three main priorities are providing effective humanitarian assistance, security and stability, and reconstruction. Ban also lamented that there has “not been much response from the international community” to the United Nation's urgent appeal last week for $570 million. So far, $195 million has been received, Ban's spokesman said. Clinton said the earthquake provided an opportunity for Haitians to “re-imagine their country, opening up new ports and airports.” The former U.S. president said, “I think the cash-for-work program is next.” Under that plan, Haitians will be paid about $5 dollars a day for work that includes removing rubble, doing street repairs, and restoring essential infrastructure, such as electricity. The first phase of the cash-for-work program will focus on Carrefour-Feuilles, a neighborhood just south of Port-au-Prince. The initiative will soon be extended to other earthquake-stricken locations. Asked how people outside Haiti could contribute to the country's recovery, Clinton said donating cash to the U.N. Children's Fund, the World Food Program, and Partners in Health-organizations that have a long-standing presence in Haiti-was the best way to help. Meanwhile, the United Nations on Thursday said that 61 of its employees have been confirmed dead and some 180 remain unaccounted for.
